Retractable writing instrument



April 1, 1969 R. A. LANOIE 3,436,160

RETRACTABLE WRITING INSTRUMENT Filed Aug. 8, 1966 INVENTOR FIG. 4 RAYMOND A. LANOIE ATTORNEYS 3,436,160 RETRACTABLE WRITING INSTRUMENT Raymond A. Lannie, East Greenwich, R.I., assignor to Ltlew Mfg. Co., Coventry, R.I., a corporation of Rhode Is and Filed Aug. 8, 1966, Ser. No. 570,990 Int. Cl. 343k 7/12 US. Cl. 401116 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A retractable writing instrument having a cartridge that projects through a barrel of the instrument and is interconnected to a carrier adjacent to the rear end thereof, the carrier having a lug formed thereon that is received in a slot formed in a sleeve that is held in a relatively fixed position, and the lug being further received in a helical track that is formed interiorly of an operating member that is located in coaxial relation on the sleeve, the operating member being held against axial movement but being rotated for producing a corresponding axial movement of the carrier and the cartridge interconnected thereto.

The present invention relates to a retractable writing instrument. More particularly, the present invention relates to a writing instrument of the retractable type which includes a unique mechanism for producing the retracting or expelling of the writing end of a cartridge contained within the writing instrument.

The writing instrument embodied in the present invention is of that type which includes a cartridge, on the writing end of which a ball point is located. Ball-point pens have come into favor in recent years, and, as a result, a great variety of retracting operating mechanisms have been developed for use with this kind of writing instrument. Although the retracting operating mechanisms known heretofore have generally satisfied the need for which they have been employed, the more simple versions of these mechanisms have proven to be inadequately constructed and, after a period of use, have failed in operation. The more complicated mechanisms have been costly to manufacture and, therefore, have not been acceptable by the consumer. The present invention defines an operating mechanism for a ball-point writing instrument that is not only simple in construction but includes an arrangement of parts that is capable of long-term operation without failing and further defines an economical unit to manufacture. In carrying out the concept of the present invention, the ball-point cartridge is contained within a carrier that is in turn secured to an adapter. Enveloping the carrier is a sleeve having a slot formed therein and into which a lug joined to the carrier is received. The sleeve is fixed against rotation, thereby preventing rotation of the lug therewith and inducing longitudinal movement of the lug within the slot. In order to move the lug in a longitudinal direction within the slot that is formed in the sleeve, a tubular operating member having an interior track formed therein is provided and is mounted in coaxial relation on the sleeve so that the track receives the lug therein. The tubular operating member receives the cap of the instrument therearound and is rotatable therewith, the rotation of the tubular operating member causing a corresponding linear movement of the carrier and adapter through movement of the carrier lug within the slot formed in the sleeve. Since the carrier and adapter are moved in a longitudinal direction upon rotary movement of the tubular operating member, the cartridge secured to the adapter is caused to move in a corresponding longitudinal direction.

nited States Patent Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a writing instrument having a relatively simple retracting mechanism composed of a minimum number of parts that produces longitudinal movement of the writing cartridge upon rotating movement of the cap of the writing instrument.

Another object of the invention is to provide an assembly for a retractable writing instrument that includes a fixed sleeve having a slot formed therein into which a lug of a cartridge carrier is received, the lug further being received in a track of a tubular operating member that is rotatable to produce a corresponding longitudinal movement of the carrier and writing cartridge interconnected thereto.

Still another object is to provide a retractable writing instrument that is operated by the simple rotation of the cap of the instrument and that includes a compact organization of operating parts.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description thereof proceeds when considered in connection with the accompanying illustrative drawing.

In the drawing which illustrates the best mode presently contemplated for carrying out the present invention:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the retractable writing instrument embodied in the present invention with the cap shown in phantom;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view with a portion shown in elevation of the operating parts of the retractable writing instrument embodied herein and with portions of the cap and barrel shown in phantom;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the operating parts of the retractable writing instrument; and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view with portions shown in dotted lines therein of the operating member of the retractable writing instrument.

Referring now to the drawing and particularly to FIG. 1, the retractable writing instrument embodied in the present invention is generally indicated at 10 and includes a barrel 12 that comprises a forward conical portion 14 and a removable tapered point 24 through which a writing tip 16 of a cartridge 18 is adapted to extend. A removable cap 20 is mounted on the rear portion of the writing instrument, as will be described, and is adapted to be rotated with respect to the barrel 12 for producing the retracting or expelling operation of the writing tip 16. The cap 20 will further include a conventional clip, not shown, that is provided for securing the writing instrument in the pocket of the user.

Referring now to FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, the operating mechanism of the writing instrument is illustrated and includes an inner elongated tubular member 22 that extends within the barrel 12 toward the tapered end 14 and is secured in place by the tapered point 24 that is threadably interconnected thereto. Fixed in the rearmost end of the inner tubular member 22 in press fitting relation is a tubular sleeve 26 which as shown in FIG. 2, terminates at the rearmost end thereof in a flange 28 and is further provided with a longitudinally extending slot 30. Since the tubular sleeve 26 is disposed in press fitting relation with respect to the inner surface of the tubular member 22 it is thus restrained from rotary movement.

Located within the tubular sleeve 26 in telescoping relation with respect thereto is a cartridge carrier 32, on the forward end of which a lug 34 is mounted. The rearmost end of the cartridge carrier 32 is formed with threads 36, the purpose of which is to receive a tubular adapter indicated at 38. If the carrier 32 is fabricated of a metal material then the body thereof will be formed with a slot 40 as shown in FIG. 3, the slot 40 providing for movement of the carrier within the tubular sleeve 26.

It is also contemplated to mold the carrier 32 of a plastic material in which event the inherent resilience of the plastic material would enable the carrier to be inserted into the tubular sleeve 26 and the slot 40 would then be eliminated. When the carrier 32 is located in proper position within the tubular sleeve 26, the lug 34 projects through the slot 30, and is movable therein, which as will be described provides for longitudinal movement of the carrier 32 within the tubular sleeve 26. It is apparent that this longitudinal movement of the carrier 32 within the tubular sleeve 26 will be limited by the length of the slot 30.

Threadably joined to the rear end of the carrier 32 is the tubular adapter 38 the forward end of which has internal threads 42 formed therein for receiving the external threads 36 of the carrier 32. A knurled portion 44 is formed on the rearmost end of the adapter 38 and provides a gripping surface for securing the cap to the adapter 38. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the writing cartridge 18 extends centrally of the operating mechanism and projects through the inner tubular member 22, carrier 32, and into the adapter 38 for frictional engagement therewith. As will be described, the writing cartridge 18 will move in a longitudinal direction with the adapter 38 and carrier 32 as the carrier and adapter are moved within the sleeve 26 in a longitudinal direction therein.

In order to provide for the retracting or expelling operation of the writing tip 16 of the cartridge 18, an operating member 46 is provided and, as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 in particular, is formed in a tubular construction, the interior surface of which is formed with an internal track 48 that is spiral in configuration. Referring again to FIG. 2, the tubular operating member 46 is shown mounted on the tubular sleeve 26 in telescoping relation, the spirally formed track 48 receiving the lug 34 of the carrier 32 therein.

As further illustrated in FIG. 2, the operating member 46 is fixed against longitudinal movement, the end thereof engaging flexible rings 50 and 52 that are disposed in encircling relation around the sleeve 26 and provide for smooth rotation of the operating member. A washer 54 also located around the sleeve 26 acts to apply tension to the operating member 46 for producing a position operation thereof.

In order to impart rotary movement of the operating member 46, the cap 20 is disposed in telescoping relation therearound and in frictional engagement therewith. Thus, when the cap 20 is rotated with respect to the barrel 12, the operating member 46 will be rotated therewith. If required, an adapter sleeve may be telescoped on the operating member 46 in friction fitting relation and will be received within the cap 20. As previously noted, the sleeve 26 is fixed against rotation by means of the frictional fit thereof with the inner surface of the tubular member 22. In operation, when the operating member 46 is rotated with the cap 20, the carrier 32 will be caused to move in a longitudinal direction because of the location of the lug 34 in the slot of the tubular sleeve 26. Since the adapter 38 is interconnected to the carrier 32, it, together with the cartridge 18, will move with the carrier 32 in a longitudinal direction as the operating member 46 is rotated. It is apparent that longitudinal movement of the carrier 32 is limited by the confines of the slot 30, the extreme ends of the slot 30 defining the expelled or foTward position of the Writing tip 16 and the retracted or rearward position thereof.

As described hereinabove, the writing instrument 10 is relatively simple in construction, and the component parts may be assembled in a minimum number of manufacturing operations. In this connection many of the assembly steps are capable of being performed automatically which further reduces the assembly time and cost of manufacture. Insofar as the component parts of the assembly are concerned, the operating member 46 as well as the sleeve 26 and carrier 32 may be molded of a plastic material if it is so desired. Other parts may be machined of metal or molded, as required. As further described above, the operation of the writing instrument is carried out by a simple rotating movement of the cap 20, and the component parts are positively retained in the position to which they are moved after each operating movement.

While there is shown and described herein certain specific structure embodying the invention, it will be manifest to those skilled in the art that various modifications and rearrangements of the parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the underlying inventive concept and that the same is not limited to the particular forms herein shown and described except insofar as indicated by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a writing instrument, a barrel, a writing cartridge located within said barrel and having a writing tip that is expelled from or retracted into said barrel, a carrier located in coaxial relation around said cartridge adjacent to the rearmost end thereof and being interconnected thereto, a lug joined to said carrier, a tubular member located in fixed position in said barrel, a tubular sleeve fixed in said tubular member against rotation and having a longitudinally extending slot formed therein, an operating member mounted for rotation on said tubular sleeve between the ends of said sleeve and having an interior helical track formed therein, means mounted on said tubular sleeve and engaging said operating member for fixing said operating member against longitudinal movement, said carrier being received in said tubular sleeve for axially sliding movement therein, the lug joined to the carrier extending through the slot in said tubular sleeve and being operatively received in the interior helical track of said operating member, and means frictionally engaging said operating member for producing rotation thereof, wherein the carrier and writing cartridge interconnected thereto are moved a corresponding longitudinal distance.

2. In a writing instrument as set forth in claim 1, an adapter secured to said carrier and receiving the rearmost end of said cartridge therein for movement therewith, wherein longitudinal movement of said carrier produces a corresponding movement of said adapter and cartridge received therein.

3. In a writing instrument as set forth in claim 2, an operating cap located in coaxial relation around said tubular member and interengaged therewith, said cap enveloping the adapter, and being rotatable with respect to said barrel to rotate said operating member, wherein said carrier, adapter and cartridge are moved in a longitudinal direction.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,780,351 2/ 1957 Grisel 401-78 2,858,015 10/ 1958 Grisel 40178 2,454,086 11/ 1948 Randolph 401-116 2,603,186 7/ 1952 Fischer 4011l6 2,623,231 11/ 1952 Gutenstein 4011 16 2,629,123 2/ 1953 Mahruki 401-1l6 2,693,171 11/1954 Lanoie 401116 LAWRENCE CHARLES, Primary Examiner. 

